12 replies to this topic

[Auscar]

Hi all,

 

Was driving to work this morning in my 1985 998cc Austin Mayfair when the exhaust snapped on the curve section of the original exhaust. The exhaust system itself doesn't look older than 3 years.

 

Anyway to cut to the point I'm weighing up options of stage 1 kits between Mini sport and Mini spares.

 

I have read through a few posts on the forum and am trying to find the best option. 

 

So far I have read the Mini spares kit costs around 50 quid more and sections need to be cut to fit the car but the quality is higher?

 

The Mini sport kit costs less and apparently fits straight on without having to cut sections?

 

If someone with experience with one or both of the kits could shine some light on this matter it would be much appreciated.

 

Also any promo codes would be really helpful!

 

[alex-95]

I'm not too sure on the difference between the two, I've got the minisport one which is alright after changing the needle to an AAU and using a standard filter rather than the cone one.

 

If you pay £5 for TMF+ you will be able to get 7.5% off minispares (and a couple of other places).

[Auscar]

I'm not too sure on the difference between the two, I've got the minisport one which is alright after changing the needle to an AAU and using a standard filter rather than the cone one.

 

If you pay £5 for TMF+ you will be able to get 7.5% off minispares (and a couple of other places).

 

Thanks for the reply. Why do you use the standard air intake? and how long have you had your minisport system?

[alex-95]

 

I'm not too sure on the difference between the two, I've got the minisport one which is alright after changing the needle to an AAU and using a standard filter rather than the cone one.

 

If you pay £5 for TMF+ you will be able to get 7.5% off minispares (and a couple of other places).

 

Thanks for the reply. Why do you use the standard air intake? and how long have you had your minisport system?

 

The cone filter was just too big and sucking in to much air making a big flat spot when accelerating, stuck the standard one on and runs much better. It's been on mine since I bought the mini so can't say how much better a stage one is compared to standard.

[timmy850]

Have a read of this article about air filters:

http://www.minimania...aner_test__1288

If you do use a cone or a pancake filter, make sure you use a stub stack inside as it'll improve flow a decent amount.

[Auscar]

thanks for the help guys, havnt been active for a while on here due to uni. went with the standard mini spares pancake filter which has deffo improved performance since the cone + standard exhaust was on, less is more in that sense. will look into sub stack later on next year as i have an engine conversion being lined up.

[daenesh]

stage 1 minispares is good enough.. uprated needle and carb springs, alloy inlet manifold and lcb exhaust manifolds, and high air flow air filter.. all of this will give your standard mini a significant torque increase which in turns gives your mini more umphhh.. you will feel the difference..

[daenesh]

and you should consider the 5 pound TMF+ account.. the 7.5% discount on minispares parts are great :) they also have so many more discounts on other sites..

[b_sdaddy]

Can I just hi-jack this thread....?

 

Going to fit a Stage 1 to my 998. The previous owner for some reason, fitted an RC40 back box. the rest is completely std.

 

He's fashioned a lovely connector between the small & large gauge pipes - begs the question why for the little extra, he didn't go the whole hog.?

 

Anyway, I diverse.

 

With the back box RC40 in place, I can buy the seperate parts to make up the Stage 1 kit.

 

My question is; Is this a DIY job.? I have just completely my first head gasket replacement thanks to the Haynes Manual. I'm far from a mechanic but am 'handy'.

 

I'm worried that the carb. part of the equation is a delicate one - ideally I'd like to strip down the carb. and refurbish (as it's off). I've seen the exploded diagram in the Haynes manual, I can just see me with a hundred small pieces all over the floor!!

 

Happy to replace exhaust & manifold, having done so for the HG. It's the Carb. needle that's worrying.

 

And I'd definately have it set-up on a dyno immediately after. Should I leave the carb bit to them, and would driving with std. needle for a week or two be 'harmful' to the engine..?

 

 

Sorry for hijacking, but better than starting a new topic.

 

cheers as always

[Auscar]

stage 1 minispares is good enough.. uprated needle and carb springs, alloy inlet manifold and lcb exhaust manifolds, and high air flow air filter.. all of this will give your standard mini a significant torque increase which in turns gives your mini more umphhh.. you will feel the difference..

I did this in the summer when my exhaust snapped on a cold summer morning, went with the cooper freeflow instead. definitely a good investment, yet to set up the needle yet and will do this next summer. 

 

 

and you should consider the 5 pound TMF+ account.. the 7.5% discount on minispares parts are great :) they also have so many more discounts on other sites..

did this a while ago as you can see from my tmf+ membership. it paid itself back in just the stage one purchase and i saved 35 quid on top of that with the parts i bought.

 

Can I just hi-jack this thread....?

 

Going to fit a Stage 1 to my 998. The previous owner for some reason, fitted an RC40 back box. the rest is completely std.

 

He's fashioned a lovely connector between the small & large gauge pipes - begs the question why for the little extra, he didn't go the whole hog.?

 

Anyway, I diverse.

 

With the back box RC40 in place, I can buy the seperate parts to make up the Stage 1 kit.

 

My question is; Is this a DIY job.? I have just completely my first head gasket replacement thanks to the Haynes Manual. I'm far from a mechanic but am 'handy'.

 

I'm worried that the carb. part of the equation is a delicate one - ideally I'd like to strip down the carb. and refurbish (as it's off). I've seen the exploded diagram in the Haynes manual, I can just see me with a hundred small pieces all over the floor!!

 

Happy to replace exhaust & manifold, having done so for the HG. It's the Carb. needle that's worrying.

 

And I'd definately have it set-up on a dyno immediately after. Should I leave the carb bit to them, and would driving with std. needle for a week or two be 'harmful' to the engine..?

 

 

Sorry for hijacking, but better than starting a new topic.

 

cheers as always

the rc40 is said to be the best exhaust for minis, i went with maniflow for the sake of the fact its something that is high quality and will last the test of time and also to support local to me british engineering. the freeflow is a piece of artwork in itself tbf lol.

 

the exhuast fitting is definitely a diy job, it will take time and stress you out as it seems like a bit of a rubix cube in ways to solve it. i paid a man (retired mechanic and family friend) a small amount of money and he very kindly fitted it for me whilst i was at work.

 

not setting up the needle isn't harmful as such, it just means that your mini wont be running as efficiently as it could be. although be careful about where you take it to tune as my local dyno and tuning centre wasn't recommended by my local mini club.

 

to summarise, do your research and ask people in the know for their opinions, they may even get you a discount directly with the company. a stage one kit is your first big investment to better things so go for quality parts that will take the test of time. there is plenty of good content and threads on here to take advantage of which will give you a strong start on where to start. tmf+ is also recommended ;)

Edited by Auscar, 19 December 2014 - 10:39 PM.

[IainNeon91]

Personally I would just accumulate the parts instead of buying a 'stage one kit'. It can (not always) work out cheaper, but it is more time consuming...

 

Here's a list of the individual parts you need to have a 'Stage one kit' for a 998:

 

1.5" Carb (which you will already have) + new gaskets

AAU carb needle (starting point)

Red carb spring (HS/HIF specific)

K&N element or cone air filter + new gasket

Cast alloy inlet manifold + new gaskets

3-2-1 Freeflow exhaust manifold + new gasket

 

I managed to get all of this for just over £100, then had it all set up on a rolling road. (Highly recommended!) 

Edited by IainNeon91, 20 December 2014 - 07:28 PM.

[daenesh]

Personally I would just accumulate the parts instead of buying a 'stage one kit'. It can (not always) work out cheaper, but it is more time consuming...

 

Here's a list of the individual parts you need to have a 'Stage one kit' for a 998:

 

1.5" Carb (which you will already have) + new gaskets

AAU carb needle (starting point)

Red carb spring (HS/HIF specific)

K&N element or cone air filter + new gasket

Cast alloy inlet manifold + new gaskets

3-2-1 Freeflow exhaust manifold + new gasket

 

I managed to get all of this for just over £100, then had it all set up on a rolling road. (Highly recommended!) 

 

yes I agree with you.. its all a matter if you have the time and if you then why not.. after all if it saves ya a few quid why not right

[AnthonyR]

Stripping the carb' is an OK job if you are 'Handy'. I too was apprehensive on this part of the kit. I just took apart and cleaned the areas associated with changing the needle and it couldn't have taken more than 5 mins even me as an inexperienced mini tinkerer!

Mine is now running rough though so it's booked in for some rolling road tuning. There is definitely a noticeable improvement in performance but it's wanting to bog down on hard acceleration.